Employers’ Identification of Skills Needed by Technical and Vocational Education Graduates for Industrial Work Effectiveness

Abstract

Unemployment has been an issue yet unresolved in the minds of every citizen. However, the hope is that the Nigerian government should resolve it, but this plight still looms and stirs on the face of all. This however is the plight in sight and therefore this study investigated employers’ identification of skills needed by technical and vocational education (TVE) graduates for industrial work effectiveness. The study determined (a) Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills needed by TVE graduates as identified by employers with 0-10 years of work experience, (b) Problem-Solving skills needed by TVE graduates as identified by employers with 0-10 years of work experience, (c) Technical Skills needed by TVE graduates as identified by employers with 0-10 years of work experience. Three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey design, with a population of 260 managers. Data collected were analyzed using arithmetic mean and standard deviation for research questions and z-test to test the hypothesis. The study revealed that, problem solving skills, technical skills and information and communication technology (ICT) skills are highly needed by TVE graduates for improved industrial work effectiveness. Findings of the study revealed that in terms of information and communication technology skills and problem solving skills, there was no significant difference in the mean ratings of employers. The study also revealed that employers of 0-10years of operation differed significantly in their mean ratings on technical skills needed by TVE graduates for industrial work effectiveness. Based on the findings, the researchers recommends that every effort should be made to ensure that machinery to enhance the acquisition of employability skills by TVE scholars be put in place during their days in school. There should be re-training scheme arranged by Nigerian government for TVE graduates after school.